Erik ten Hag is still belaboring under serious pressure following Manchester United’s dramatic draw with Porto in the Europa League on Thursday and in dire need of a positive result against Aston Villa at the weekend.
The week had certainly not favored the Dutchman and his Red Devils. After being told he needs results in both games against Porto and Aston Villa, the Red Devils couldn’t have gotten off to the worst possible start in Portugal when they collapsed after having gone 2-0 up, and ended up behind heading into stoppage time.
Fortunately for the gaffer, former captain Harry Maguire came to the rescue with a late header to snatch a point. The pressure is still on ahead of this weekend’s clash with Aston Villa. The Red Devils travel to the Midlands on Sunday in desperate need of a win.
Jamie Carragher has claimed that Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to keep Erik ten Hag in the summer has been the invariable trigger for United’s troubles this season.
“If Manchester United fail to massively improve this season, the ultimate responsibility lies with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos,” Carragher wrote for The Telegraph.
“The latest mess is on their watch, with United already struggling to convince they are equipped to qualify for next year’s Champions League. There is no point sugar-coating it.
“The new United hierarchy have made a deeply unimpressive start to their Old Trafford reign with one of their worst decisions being the most important any board can make. Above all, you must ensure you have the right manager. Retaining Ten Hag is proving the catalyst for another wasted campaign and possibly another £200 million down the drain.”
Interestingly, amid his former club’s ongoing issues, Sir Alex Ferguson apparently opted not to watch United in action against Porto on Thursday but decided instead to attend Rangers’ Europa League showdown with Lyon.
However, the Scottish side did not fare particularly well in France as they were handed a 4-1 defeat. Nonetheless, video footage showed him keeping tabs on the game. telling fellow attendees the score between United and Porto, just after Maguire had forced home his late equaliser.
Erik ten Hag had decided to substitute Marcos Rashford vs Porto after a heated dressing room exchange, Don Hutchinson has suggested. He said: “I’m not buying it.
“I’ve been in dressing rooms at half-time, full-time and before games and it’s one of those where Erik ten Hag – and I’m not questioning him, because he knows his players and what’s gone on – I’m surmising from an ex-players’ point of view.”
Hutchinson added: “But while the game’s in the balance at 2-2 in a big game, I don’t buy rotation, so I wonder if there’s been some sort of conflict or argument at half-time. That can happen. That’s what I’d be leaning towards. I could be wrong, but that’s what I’m leaning towards.”